First Wednesday of Advent

WORD of the DAY

Come after me.

(Matthew 4: 18-22)

How shall I live this Word?

Today is the feast of St. Andrew, Apostle. Jesus merely said, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men”. Andrew was a fisherman along with his brother Peter. They had a fairly decent business going and were certainly not contemplating a life change. What was it about Jesus that He could simply say, “come after me”, and they followed as many others did? We might also add, as thousands have and still do through the centuries. How to explain it?

Jesus is Jesus…Jesus is God…Jesus is our Savior! No other explanation is needed. He loves us to folly and desires us to be with Him, to be His in many walks of life, religious, married, single. He loves us all and bids us to follow Him as we love and serve our sisters and brothers, as we ‘become fishers of human beings’ leading them to the fullness of life and to complete joy. Jesus involves us in His mission with so much trust and confidence, and He gives us His grace to accomplish what He is asking of us. Do we want a better world? Do we want peace and happiness for everyone? Then together with Jesus we must work for it, in any way we can. Opportunity is not lacking in today’s world to do this. Advent is a propitious time to begin or to continue with more intensity to follow our beloved Jesus.

Mary followed Jesus’ call and of her He asked everything, so that He could become one of us. Mary will show us how to do what He asks of us. All we need do is ask her.